Cleaning Tips and Tricks (from a professional)

Maintaining a clean and orderly home can often feel like a full-time job. Some household cleaning tasks are not as straightforward as others, and while mom may have kept the oven immaculate, it’s no walk in the park! We have put together some tips and tricks to help you keep your home sparkly clean.

Maintain a Consistent Cleaning Schedule

Okay, this sounds like a real drag, we know, but you don’t have to have a color-coded Excel document with strict deadlines (unless that’s your jam, some of us love our spreadsheets!). If you only clean your grill once a year, you’re going to have some really char-coated burgers and dogs, but if you have a schedule and plan to give it a scrub once a month, those will be some pretty tasty meats! Here is a suggestion for how often to do a deep clean on those heavily used areas of your home:

Daily Tasks:

• Make Your Bed
• Dishes
• Sweeping
• Wipe Down Hard Surfaces
• Take Out Trash
• Wipe Down Stovetop

Weekly Tasks

• Laundry – Wash, Fold and Put Away (yes ALL 3! Lol)
• Vacuum
• Mop
• Wipe Down Outside of Appliances
• Disinfect Doorknobs
• Toilet Scrub
• Shower Wipe Down
• Wipe Down Microwave
• Purge Old Items from Fridge and Freezer
• Clean and Sanitize Kitchen Sink

Monthly Tasks:

• Dust Light Fixtures
• Dust Blinds and Clean Curtains
• Deep Clean Oven
• Clean Garbage Disposal
• Test Smoke Detectors
• Wash Bedding
• Descale Coffee Maker
• Shower Scrub
• Clean Grill
• Clean Cars Inside and Out
• Move Furniture and Clean Underneath
• Sanitize Kids Toys

Quarterly Tasks:

• Power Wash Outside of Home Including Deck, Driveway, Etc.
• Wash Inside and Outside of all Windows, Including Sills and Ledges
• Closet Cleanout
• Junk Drawer Cleanout
• Shampoo Rugs and Carpets
• Chimney Sweep
• Replace Air Filters

Don’t Buy Expensive Cleaning Products

Green cleaning products without toxic chemicals are great, but oftentimes they are also costly. If you’re wanting to get a good green clean without breaking the bank, you would be surprised by the common household items you can use for a good clean.

Vinegar

• Dishwasher – add a cup to the rinse compartment of your dishwasher.
• Microwave – fill a bowl with equal parts vinegar and water, heat on high for about 2 minutes, and wipe down. This loosens up the grime.
• Toilet – Pour 2-3 cups into the bowl, let it sit for a few hours, scrub with a brush.
• Plumbing Fixtures – Pour some white vinegar on a cloth and use it to wipe down faucets to remove hard water deposits.
• Keep Drains Clear – Pour vinegar down drains regularly to remove blockages, bacteria and prevent odors.

Baking Soda

• Oven – Mix baking soda and water to form a thick paste, apply all over the inside of the oven and let sit for several hours or overnight. Spray with half water and half vinegar mixture. Wipe clean.
• Greasy Stains and Smudges – Sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge and use it on walls and furniture, wipe clean with a damp cloth.
• Floors – Mix baking soda in warm water to clean floors. However, make sure flooring is sealed and waxed to prevent scratches.
• Laundry – Add a half cup to each load (with soap) and it will help eliminate odors.
• Trash Odor – Sprinkle it periodically in your trash can to keep bad smells at bay.
• Refrigerator – Keep an open box in your fridge to eliminate food odor. Change out monthly and do not use it for cooking.

Castile Soap

• Disinfect Surfaces – Mix a tablespoon of castile soap per cup of water and add your favorite essential oil for a safe and great-smelling cleaner.

Hydrogen Peroxide

• Surface Cleaner – Mix about a gallon of water to a ¼ of hydrogen peroxide, and a few drops of dish soap and use it to scrub surfaces clean.

Clean Top to Bottom

Don’t vacuum and then dust the ceiling fan because you will likely have to vacuum again. Try to work smarter, not harder, by cleaning from top to bottom. Wipe down upper cabinetry, wash dishes, wipe down countertops and lower cabinetry and then sweep and mop the floor. Remembering this for each room will prevent having to backtrack and spend extra time.

Be Proactive

Being consistent about cleaning messes up as they are made will go a long way in keeping a tidy home. Things like opening a window after a steamy shower can prevent a future bathroom mold problem, pouring vinegar down drains regularly can help prevent blockages and odor, wiping down hard surfaces after use, cleaning dishes after a meal, and other small tasks can keep chores from stacking up, causing days’ worth of extra work. You don’t have time for that?!